[The Great Bazaar] Markus and Jerry (Markus)

by **Radiant** on March 15th, 2014, 4:04 am

The Great Bazaar, 22nd of Bell, 54th of Spring 514 A.V

"Where's my wallet?!

"My wares! Damn him! Knights, help help!"

"THIEF THIEF!!"

A cacophony of curses and protest erupted in the Great Bazaar that late night as a swift figure was moving through the Bazaar, upturning stall tables and stealing items from night-time stalls. The figure was fast, waltzing through the crowd as if it was the wind itself, the figure's body was diminutive, not taller than a early-teenage human, wearing a dark hooded coat that covered most of the features, in the figure's right hand was various small items, mainly jewelery and miza pouch the figure stole from the merchants and customers. The offended merchants called out for the Knights and it just so happened the first one that heard the call was Ser Markus Andres, Syliran Knight, who was taking a leisure walk in the Great Bazaar, taking a few days off from his station at the Docks.

The figure ran past through a man, right hand snatching out to grab at his purse, but she made a slight mistake this time, she pulled too hard and caused the purse to fall from her hand, it landed right beside Markus' feet. "!?" Taking chances, the thief swiftly reached out to grab the purse, but the hood whipping away in the process, revealing a... young girl with dark gray hair, slightly red eyes, fair skin tone, and an innocent face. The girl made a surprised expression, she knew the knight would catch her at this range, but before Markus could grab her, light suddenly swirled from her form and she just... disappeared, save for her clothes and stolen items. The crowd gasped, most of them didn't see the small rodent stealthily scurrying away from beneath the girl's clothes, but perhaps... Markus' keen eyes took notice.

Not long after that, another knight arrived at the scene, well, female knight to be exact. It was Sera Alicia Frostfawn, the Vantha mage-knight. The short blond Vantha was wearing casual clothes, a blue dress combined with a coat, it was obvious she was off-duty but hearing the commotion, she decided to check of course, "Phew... w-what happened?" Her irises turned yellow in anxiousness, then she looked upwards to the tall Knight before her, recognizing him as Ser Markus Andres, the patron knight of the odd Pycon squire, "Uhm..." Alicia tried her best to keep up her 'duty' face, she was always bad at this kind of situation, her former patron sometime wondered on how such a shy girl could pass her knighting quest, "Ser Markus, I'm Sera Alicia Frosfawn, Mage Knight, Yellow Company, 4th Regiment, Gold Quadron. May I ask what has just transpired here?" Being a Vantha, her irises revealed her true emotion as it kept its vibrant anxious shade of yellow.

OOCAlright, feel free to take thread's plot and be creative with it.

If you have any questions, just PM me.

by **Markus Andres** on April 10th, 2014, 10:59 pm

It was good to be away from the docks. New station in life, a promotion, new interesting knights to guide and command. New missions and patrols to carry out. Life had kept him busy lately and he was happy for that change in his life. Keeping his mind busy kept him from thinking about the past too much and also kept him from the startling revelation he had made in winter. A fact he had slowly come to terms with and accepted within himself. Though at the moment, he was bored.

The sergeant wore a dark green tunic and a pair of blue cotton trousers. The twin sword pin on his left shoulder indicated his rank. He only carried his cold iron dagger today. He figured within the bazaar it wouldn't be needed to carry a full armament.

”THIEF! THIEF!”

Markus heard the calls and turned to face the source of the shouts. As his gaze went over the crowd he only sensed one other knight in the crowd closest to him. A fact he found a little unsettling, the bazaar ought to be packed with knights as it was one of the busiest places in Syliras. The sergeant was about to make his way to the nearby merchant who had yelled thief. When something landed right in front of him. Curious he looked down. There was a leather pouch clinking with coin inside right next to his feet. A young woman went for the pouch. She looked much too young to have such gray hair. Her eyes he found unsettling, red eyes? Might be a Vantha? But didn't they usually have entirely black hair? Things he could muse on later, for now the thief had, almost litterally, plopped into his lap. Markus' large right hand went out to grab the female thief.

He was surprised to find his hand just went through the air where the woman had been only a second earlier. It took him a tick or two to understand what he had just seen. Been a while since he had last seen a kelvic transform right in front of him. Markus shook his head a little and looked for an animal scurrying about. Would have to be somewhere nearby. The people gathered around took several steps back – to them, it looked like Markus had just made a woman vanish with his mere touch.

A distraction appeared next to him, Markus initially thought another woman had thrown herself at his feet to steal the pouch. But turning his head to look at her fully, Markus realized this woman was actually standing on both feet. Petch me, she is short. Markus looked down at her and sensed that she also carried a mark of their god. A fellow knight. This Bob sized woman was actually a knight? Despite her shortness, Markus found the female knight rather attractive and her yellow eyes seemed , but he pushed those thoughts aside, especially when she introduced herself as a mage-knight. Might be short and cute, but dating a mage would probably be a bit too chaotic for his life right now. Though the sergeant was a bit surprised to hear that she knew about him.

Probably because I got a piece of clay as my squire.

But he recognized her name. Might have been back in the days when he had been a squire or recent rumours. But the name Alicia and Shorty were somehow related in his mind.

”Sera Frostfawn. I almost caught a thief, but she changed into some sort of animal. If you see any animal about, tell m-”

”There!” Surprised that she interrupted him, though he didn't blame her. Duty was more important than politeness and he was more than eager to catch the thief that had escaped his grasp. Her short arm pointed at the feet of a couple of nearby bystanders. Markus eyes followed her finger and only at the last moment noticed the mouse running between the legs of people. Petch me, a mouse? That explained everything. How she had seemingly vanished right before him. Markus sighed as he realized he was going to be bowling over a lot of slow customers if he was to catch this mouse.

”Let's get her.” He spoke softly to sera Frostfawn before he started running after the mouse. ”Get out of my way! Stop right there, Kelvic, we are knights!” The knight's voice bellowed. Like cattle they just turned to look at the source of the sound and stared at him dumbly.

Seriously?

by **Markus Andres** on April 10th, 2014, 11:00 pm

”I SAID GET OUT OF MY WA-ooompf!” Louder, more forcefully he shouted at the customers as he came charging. They were either too dimwitted or deaf, for they were too slow to move out of his way. Markus leaned into his shoulder as he pushed the two aside. Might not have been the most noble of actions, but Markus hardly cared. Whena knight yelled that you should get out of the way, you petching got out of the way or got slammed aside. Markus had never liked to use force outside of physical confrontations. Prefered to let diplomacy and patience solve the issues, but as of late he had found himself increasingly restless and wanting something more exciting than just patrols and missions. The stupidity of the civilians that surrounded him caused his anger to flare up.

Shocked bystanders watched as the knight plowed through the innocent pair and continued on his way. Eyes constantly seeking the mouse. It kept running in and out of his vision. Dissappearing behind legs and under bought wares.

”KNIGHT BUSINESS! GET OUT OF MY WAY! EVERYONE!” The people looked at him and those in his immediate path were quick to get out of his way. Behind him Frostfawn ran, trying to keep up with the huge knight as he sprinted. Markus carved a clear path for her and she didn't have to worry about people. The Sergeant had made sure of that with his massive body. The broke clear of a tight crowd and Markus stopped abruptly. He felt Frostfawn collide with his back, but he didn't budge. Eyes scanning the vicinity for a mouse. He saw a tail dissappear around a shop of some sort. Markus reached back and absentmindedly grabbed Frostfawn's extended hand and pulled her up.

She had said something to him, he had not consciously heard it, just reacted. There was a murmur of an apology and a thanks mixed into one. Markus' one tracked mind blocked it out as he ran again. ”Yea yea, let us go.” He responded impatiently as he started to run again. One hand around Frostfawn's arm as he ran. Dragging her with him. Surprisingly light. Then again, she wasn't much larger than a child. There was a protest that didn't reach his attention. As he turned the corner. Saw the small rodent at the far end two stalls further down. The thing was fast, but Markus was faster. The thing weaved in and out between feet. These people had heard the commotion and most were standing looking at Markus as he came barging through the crowds.

”MOVE! OUT OF MY WAY!” Other knights might look at him and wonder, but they would sense the mark of Sylir upon him. A knight in action. Besides, them in their heavy armour couldn't catch up to this ridicolously quick rodent. He saw it dissappear into a stall. Between the wares.

by **Markus Andres** on April 10th, 2014, 11:02 pm

Markus slid to a hold in front of a large stall with dozens upon dozens of glass and pottery. Jars, jugs, mugs. So many hiding places. Frostfawn slid to a halt as well and looked at Markus furiously. But the sergeant barely noticed her fury, he had not even realized he was still holding on to her. With an annoyed swat of her arm she pulled herself free of him. That was when he turned to look at her.

”You said mage-knight? Can you do that eye trick where you can see … colours?” Markus had never claimed to be an intelligent man. Especially not when it came to magical disciplines. He had only heard of this weird thing, a rumour perhaps. The Frostfawn looked at him with eyes with a deep red colour.

Weren't they yellow before? – Then it dawned on him. Her name, Frostfawn – Avanthal. She was a Vantha. Explained the eye colour. ”Pretty eyes.” He murmured before his attention returned to the bowls and wares before him. Started to look into the easy to access jars on the floor. Behind plates. The merchant looked at Markus a bit perplexed. But he must have assumed the two were customers browsing his wares. Markus was not inclined to correct the man as he quickly looked through the wares.

”Y-yes ser, I can.” Markus, already having forgotten his own question when he had seen her amazing eyes, turned to her with a look on his face that mirrored the owner of the shop. Her eyes back to their original yellow colour and her cheeks with a hue of red on them.

”You can what?”

”See auras.” A pause as she looked at Markus. ”Colours... Auristics? Didn't you-”

”Well, then do it. See if you can spot the mouse.” He interrupted, obviously lacking the patience for long winded conversations.

'Erm, mouse?' The perplexed shop owner responded when he overheard the mouse.

”Knight business. If you see a mouse here inform us.” Barely had the words left his mouth before he realized that this shop owner knew something. ”Where?” The question was sharp and the shop owner pointed at the direction of a man who carried a mouse on his shoulder as he left the bazaar.

”Frost, is it her?” Several long ticks that tested Markus' patience passed before the female knight finally nodded her head confidently. The mouse seemed to have noticed the pair staring at her as it quickly climbed down from the man, his purpose had been served in any case. For she had been given a lift up the stairs and she quickly darted away. Markus growled as he broke into a sprint again. ”Don't let her get away, Frost!” The sergeant ordered. Legs started to getting warmed up to the chase. He climbed the stairs in a couple of mighty strides. Sliding across the worn cobble stone. Saw the creature turn a corner and the chase was on again. Legs pumped furiously under him as he grabbed onto an exposed piece of stone and used it to fling him around the corner without breaking his stride. His left shoulder slammed against the opposite wall in the T-hallway.

The sergeant grunted in pain as he pushed away from the wall. A minor price to pay for the capture of the thief. The chase continued. Markus could feel his lungs and thighs begin to burn as he sprinted through the corridors of the fortress. The trio came out onto Markus' old station. The docks. The two knights sprinted after the rodent. Who ran straight for the water and Markus realized the trickery and tried to stop, only to find the ground slippery. Frostfawn equally observant as Markus also tried to stop, but having a harder time as she bumped into Markus. The two went down and Markus groaned as the vantha landed on top of him. Her tiny elbows jabbed into his ribs. The two rolled over one another and ended with Markus staring into the rapidly shifting eyes of the Vantha woman. From surprise to embarrasment as she noticed on whom she was lying.

The sergeant looked at the cute woman on top of him briefly and dismissed the romantic notion that came to him. Not with a mage. He put his arms under her and heaved her up to a standing position. Quickly catching his breath as he looked for the mouse. He was growing weary of this endless chase. His muscles were for short explosive bursts or longer endurance driven pursuits. Like wearing the armour contra combat. Not this mix between sprinting and long distance running. He saw the rodent leave the docks and sighed as he gave chase once more.

Markus began to focus his djed again. He gathered the djed or flux from his upper body, where it was not as needed as in his legs. Although he felt better and more experienced with the magic than he had when he started, he still did not have the focus to sent it into his legs. Especially not when they were moving as furiously as they were now. So his massive thighs got the extra strength. Willing the volatile djed into his legs had immediate benefits. Sending strength to his legs as he ran. It was hard to focus, very hard, while chasing a small animal like a rodent. But he could feel his legs have more strength in them. His speed improved by a small margin as well. The acid that burned in his knees and thighs however, remained. Nothing he couldn't ignore in the short run.

by **Markus Andres** on April 10th, 2014, 11:03 pm

He endured. Quickly catching up to the rodent. Closer and closer he got as they entered residental areas.

Of course he endured. Close enough that he felt confident that he could catch her. The sergeant threw himself at her. Large hands closed around the mouse, or so he thought. For the slippery creature had managed to avoid him. ”Ooomphh” Markus exhaled heavily as he landed on the ground. Nothing had been spared to his own safety. The knight hit the ground chest first. Tumbled over as his lack of acrobatic skills kicked in and he just rolled about and random across the ground. His long legs barely avoiding squishing the mouse as he rolled. The creature shrieked in panic as she continued to flee. Markus didn't bother check his own injuries. He was too commited to this chase. He felt his heart pump like there was no tomorrow. He felt alive again!

Frostfawn caught up with him when he stopped rolling. He pushed himself to his feet, the mage knight helped him back up again. ”Give me a moment, follow her. Don't let her escape, Frost.” There was a pained expression upon his face and worry for the sergeant sent ripples of colours through her eyes. One day, he would find a wonderful Vantha woman and just stare into her eyes 'til the day he died. Those insignificant thoughts were pushed aside. ”Go, I will be fine.” She sent a last lingering look to him before she ran after the mouse. Markus felt his left arm hurt a little from the double impact against the wall and ground. But he wasn't bothered by the stinging arm as his focus went into himself. Into the djed that he so rarely called for to aid him. He needed speed, not control now. Markus began to run after sera Frostfawn. She had short legs and Markus steadily gained on her as she ran before him. His ribs hurt a bit he noticed as he pulled in air. He lost the focus on his djed, but soon regained the focus. Markus turned the corner and Frostfawn stood there. Looking frantically around. She turned to Markus and a shamed look came over her face.

”Sorry ser, I lost her.”

”No worries, Frost, we will find her.” There was a calm confidence in his voice as he stood next to her and patted her on the shoulder.

He would find that thief. One way or the other. He looked down the narrow hallway. It was too long for the mouse to have gotten all the way to the other end without Frostfawn spotting her. Which meant: One of these apartments contained the mouse. If the two put their heads together and used their intelligence and logic to deduct which room the mouse might hide in, they could figure it out with ease. He looked to Frostfawn who looked back at him. The sergeant shrugged.

Intelligence and logic.

Thus Markus promptly walked up to the first apartment door. He pushed the last of the djed he had gathered into his right leg. Magically enhanced foot raised and kicked in the door. It blew wide open. Behind it a naked woman stood who stared at the two pair of intruders. Her gray hair and red eyes immediately recognizeable to Markus. She looked tired and weary after their chase. A smile crossed his lips, satisfied that he had finally caught the culprit.

”How did you know, ser?” Frostfawn murmured behind him curious.

”Miss, you are under arrest for theft and running from the law. Come with me peacefully and you will not be harmed.” The sergeant readily ignored sera Frostfawns question. It had been a dose of luck mixed with the fact that there had been a small opening down at the corner of the heavy wooden door. But he had only noticed that after he had kicked open the door. He stepped in a threw a dress that lay on the floor at the woman. ”Get dressed.” The woman did as she was told and soon after Markus grabbed her by the right arm in a tight grip and dragged her towards the tank.

”So, Frost, want to go get something to eat? My treat.” Markus said in a casual tone as he led the kelvic in front of him.

by **Radiant** on April 16th, 2014, 8:07 am

Markus :

Notes :

My radiance is not bright enough?

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, beam me a PM and we can work it out.

Skill	XP Earned
Observation	+2 XP
Running	+3 XP
Endurance	+2 XP
Intelligence	+2 XP
Leadership	+3 XP
Tactics	+1 XP
Flux	+2 XP
Acrobatics	+1 XP

Completed [The Great Bazaar] Markus and Jerry (Markus)